Championship high-fliers Middlesbrough have pulled out of their deal to sign Jordan Rhodes from Blackburn.

Gazette Live report the deal became too expensive for the Teesside club once wages, bonuses and pay-rises were added on top of the transfer fee of £9million.

It is understood the deal being demanded would have seen Boro invest a figure heading towards a total of £30m over the course of the bumper four-and-half-year deal.

And that was too much for club bosses and would have shattered the pay-structure.

Rhodes had travelled to Teesside on Saturday for talks after the clubs agreed an £11million fee, with Rovers boss Paul Lambert being quoted on how he would reinvest the money to rebuild his team.

The 25-year-old said: "I’m baffled and disappointed but I’ll knuckle down and get my work head back on at Blackburn. It’s a great club."

Looking ahead: Rovers boss Paul Lambert had already outlined what he planned to do with the money from Rhodes' transfer (Image: PA)

After being withdrawn from Rovers squad to play at Oxford in the FA Cup, the striker spent yesterday at Rockliffe Hall taking his medical, having a look around the swish training complex and fine-tuning his personal terms.

Boro were ready to take on his lucrative Rovers deal - which includes a promotion pay rise - and add another year to the length of the contract.

And the early indications were that the player and his representatives were happy with that.

But Boro grew uneasy during talks as further performance clauses and bonuses were requested which pushed the investment above their ceiling.